Publications

Founded in 2007 as an online book retailer, Flipkart rapidly became the largest e-commerce player in India, valued at almost $15 billion. However, it faced intense competition from other e-commerce players like Amazon and Snapdeal. Over the years Flipkart was slowly... View Details

Article

The Market Design and Policy of Online Review Platforms

By: Benjamin Edelman

I present the institutions and incentives of online reviews, including attracting initial reviews, assuring truthful reviews of genuine experiences, and avoiding inflated or deceptive reviews. I also explore the competition and consumer protection concerns associated... View Details

Keywords: Reviews; Reputation; Platforms; Marketplaces; Deception; Market Design; Multi-Sided Platforms; Law; Online Technology; Information Technology Industry; Telecommunications Industry; Accommodations Industry; Retail Industry

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October 2000 (Revised March 2001)
Case

eLance.com: Building a Professional Services Marketplace

By: Lynda M. Applegate and Kristin Kohler

Launched as an eBay for services, eLance promises to leverage the capabilities of the Internet to not only change the way services are bought and sold, but change the fundamental dynamics of the global economy. Building on theories posited in the HBR article by Tim... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Technological Innovation; Job Search; Business or Company Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Strategy; Competitive Strategy; Web Sites; Information Technology Industry; Service Industry

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March 2020 (Revised April 2020)
Case

CarTrade

By: Rajiv Lal and Shreya Ramachandran

Vinay Sanghi, the founder and CEO of CarTrade, had been trying different business strategies to keep the company, which he founded in 2010 as an online marketplace for used and new cars, profitable and on track for growth. In a crowded and disorganized dealer... View Details

Keywords: Online Marketplace; Automobiles; Customer Base; Internet and the Web; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Model; Financing and Loans; E-commerce; Digital Platforms; Digital Marketing; Auto Industry; Retail Industry; India; Mumbai

01 Mar 2011
News

Swap ’Em If You Got ’Em

and other personal effects amid the peripatetic military lifestyle gave Hall and some HBS classmates the idea for an online marketplace exclusively for military personnel, the New York Post reported... View Details

Keywords: online retail; online shopping; online marketplace; National Security and International Affairs; Government; News, Library, Internet, and Other Services; Information

January 2020
Case

Ureed.com: The Marketplace for Language

By: Ashley V. Whillans, Esel Çekin and Alpana Thapar

Jordanian entrepreneur, Nour Al Hassan, founded Tarjama in 2008, tapping into an underserved and high demand need: Arabic translation service. Its lean model comprised of hiring full-time employees, mainly women, who worked from home. It steadily grew over the... View Details

Keywords: Language Translation; Freelancers; Entrepreneurship; Human Resources; Management; Expansion; Quality; Growth and Development Strategy

2016
Working Paper

Designing Online Marketplaces: Trust and Reputation Mechanisms

By: Michael Luca

Online marketplaces have proliferated over the past decade, creating new markets where none existed. By reducing transaction costs, online marketplaces facilitate transactions that otherwise would not have occurred and enable easier entry of small sellers. One central... View Details

Keywords: Trust; E-commerce; Market Design

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June 2005 (Revised May 2006)
Case

Covisint (A): The Evolution of a B2B Marketplace

By: Lynda M. Applegate and Elizabeth Collins

Ford Motor Co., General Motors, and DaimlerChrysler--the three original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that dominated the automotive industry throughout the 20th century--launched Covisint in February 2000 as an industry supply chain exchange that would drive out cost... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Supply Chain Management; Business Startups; Management Teams; Manufacturing Industry; Auto Industry; United States

Web

Entrepreneurship Course Online | HBS Online

could relate to, and it helped me to understand and know that fear can be good because it fuels your passion to keep you moving forward. Anita Umoh Director at Ayzer Limited What You Earn Certificate of Completion Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from... View Details

16 Sep 2021
News

OpenSea, Amid Insider Trading Controversy, Rolls Out NFT Marketplace App

Web

Online Business Strategy Course | HBS Online

enduring financial success "The course has given me the confidence to know that my suggestions have a solid business basis." Jennifer Moret Financial Analyst What You Earn Certificate of Completion Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS View Details

09 Feb 2012
Sharpening Your Skills

Sharpening Your Skills: Online Marketing

ratings star added on a Yelp restaurant review translated to anywhere from a 5-percent to 9-percent effect on revenues. Local, independent restaurants were the most affected by reviews, probably because diners have little information about them before the reviews were... View Details

Keywords: Re: Multiple Faculty; Technology

02 Aug 2017
News

HBX Launches Entrepreneurship Essentials, a New Online Certificate Program

January 2021 (Revised March 2022)
Case

Arçelik: From a Dealer Network to an Omnichannel Experience

By: Ayelet Israeli and Fares Khrais

Arçelik Turkey, the country’s market leader in household appliances, was at an omnichannel crossroads in January 2020. Arçelik was a B2B player utilizing a dealership network with an umbrella of brands and had one of the largest brick-and-mortar store networks in... View Details

Web

Online Transforming Customer Experiences Course | HBS Online

Consulting and Research Limited MSc, Business Administration What You Earn Certificate of Completion Boost your resume with a Certificate of Completion from HBS Online Earn by: completing this course Certificate of Specialization Prove... View Details

September 2017 (Revised June 2019)
Case

Dianrong: Marketplace Lending, Blockchain, and 'The New Finance' in China

By: Christopher J. Malloy, Lauren H. Cohen and Anthony K. Woo

This case examines the strategic positioning of Dianrong, one of the largest online peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platforms in China, in its attempt to become a foundational player in the expansion of the FinTech sector in Asia. Dianrong had recently announced the... View Details

Keywords: Financing and Loans; Internet and the Web; Supply Chain; Finance; Innovation and Invention; Competition; Product Positioning; Strategy; Financial Services Industry; China

Web

Winning with Digital Platforms Online Course | HBS Online

Vyas Assistant Vice President at TTK Healthcare Limited Understand the platform business landscape to work more effectively with platforms or respond to new opportunities in your industry. "HBS Online courses are excellent for anyone who... View Details

September 2003 (Revised May 2006)
Case

Eyeblaster: Enabling the Next Generation of Online Advertising

By: Elie Ofek

Eyeblaster management has to decide on the best course of action to sustain its momentum from enabling online rich media advertising. Pressure from competitors is forcing the company to re-evaluate its previous marketing strategy that focused primarily on getting... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Marketing Strategy; Market Entry and Exit; Performance Evaluation; Digital Marketing; Growth and Development Strategy